Hinge for shoe lasts



Sept 15, 1953 c. H. HElTMAN ET AL HINGE FOR SHOE LASTS Filed Nov. 5, 1949 5: IT'MFIN) V 7?. A/IEHHUS, Egg-M...

Patented Sept. 15, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HINGE FOR SHOE LASTS Clarence H. Heitman, University City, and Roy R. Niehaus, Kirkwood, Mo.; said Niehaus assignor to said Heitman Application November 3, 1949, Serial No. 125,212

12 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to an improvement in a hinge for a shoe last, and in particular to an improvement in the locking means for such a hinge.

The applicant, Clarence H. Heitman, is the patentee in Patent No. 2,391,968 of January 1, 1946, and the present application is an improvement over the hinge set forth in that patent.

The present hinge last provides for the opening and closing of the last by vertical and pivoted movement of one last section relative to the other, so that the heel part of the last may clear the back line of the shoe iupper when the last is broken. In the present design, the last is automatically self-locking when it is moved into position. This lock acts with a snap action, but it is releasable by a properly applied force.

The objects of the invention are to obtain those advantages previously set forth. Also, it is an object of the invention to provide a locking hinge last that consists in a small, compact unit, that is strong, dependable, and inexpensive; and that may be unlocked without excessive force but that will hold securely when locked. Particularly it is an object to provide such a hinge that has a spring means related to a hook type of hinge closing device so that the hook snaps into position and is firmly but releasably held closed.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a last partly in section to show a side elevation of the hinge;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged medial fore-to-aft section of the center part of the last and the hinge;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but with the hinge partially open;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Figs. 2 and 3, but with the last entirely open;

Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken on the line 55 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the hinge lock members; and

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of the lock spring.

The last, generally indicated at 10, has a toe section II and a heel section I2 of any familiar construction. These fore and aft last sections constitute a specialized application of the hinge of the present invention, representing as they do, two relatively movable but permanently connected elements that separate by a particular movement and join in a firm locking engagement for use. The two sections join in interfaces comprising an upper face l3, a ledge l4 and a lower face IS. The lower face is more or less parallel to the upper face l3. This type of last is well known in the art. It is designed to open by lifting the top forward part of the heel section l2 While the front last section I I remains in the shoe.

The hinge is here generally indicated at 18. In the preferred construction, it is of laminated construction and includes a forward hinge section l9 and a rearward hinge section 25]. The forward section l9 consists of two side plates 2! and 22, preferably of metal, and attached together about a spacer and hook member 23. These parts may be welded together or otherwise attached so that they are strong and rigid, the two side plates 2| and 22 being held in rigid parallelism by the spacer member 23. The spacer is disposed in the upper half of the side plates so as to provide a slot between the side plates 2| and 22 in the lower half of the hinge section.

The spacer member 23, which forms the middle lamination, is cut away to form a hook-like nose 24 at its upper forward end. This hook or nose 24 is formed in the upper quarter of the hinge section [9 by a recess 25 out into that portion of the spacer 23. The top of the hook 24 is below the top of the front hinge section E9, to permit introduction of a companion hook into the recess 25 as will appear. The back edge of the recess has two slots 26 that receive the ends of a formed leaf spring 21. The nose of the hook member 24 is preferably made on a semi-circle, and the connecting part of the recess 25 is also made on a similar semi-circle, the two arcuate surfaces merging in a manner to enable them to be separated by upward movement of the rear section l2 along the interface l3 of the front section II. The spring extends, as is indicated for example in Fig. 3, so that when released its lower bend is just about opposite the upper part of the overhang of the hook member, and below this bend the spring 2? recedes downwardly and backwardly. From the bend point, the spring extends upwardly, as is shown, and then bends generally horizontally into the slot 26, so that it will flex in a manner to be described and so that it is contained within the outer limits of the hinge section IS.

The rear hinge member 23 is likewise preferably of laminated construction, it having side plates 3! and 32 that are spaced by an inter vening spacer member 33. The spacer 33 is disposed in the upper half of the hinge section 23, and, when it is welded or otherwise secured to the two side plates, the product is a rigid hinge section with a slot between the plates in the lower half of the section. The spacer 33 has a hook or nose 34 that is formed by cutting a recess 35 from the edge of the spacer. The end of the nose 34 is preferably semicircular, and the connecting part of the recess edge is similarly arcuate, providing a slight undercut. These semicircles may be substantially the size of those on the companion hook member, butfpr'eferably are slightly smaller. The nose 34 projects beyond the interface edge of its hinge section and its projecting edge 36 slopes backwardly, so that it may engage the recess of th y for ard hinge section, the hook 24 of which forward section may end flush with the edge'of its. section 19.

The hinge I8 is attachedin'sfiitable recesses in the fore and aft portions of the last, which recesses are preferably close fitting to aidin having a tight hinge, and to aid in installing the hinge into the last. Suitable holes are provided through the hinge sections and the last to admit pins 31 and 38 through the upperparts of the fore and aft hinge portions l9 and 20 to partially secure the hinge portions to the last. When these pins are in place, the hinge sections .are rather well secured, when the recesses in "the last are close fitting. The low'eriparts of the hinge likewise have holes through them to receive pins 39 and 40, which likewise preferably pass through the last to insure that the hinge sections are securely held the last sections.

The two pins 39 and also connect the ends of a hinge link 4|. This hinge link desirably is contained within the outer limits of the side plates of the two hingesections and .its bottom edge is coincident with the bottom edges of the two side plates and with the recess in the forward part of the'last. Necessarily, the rear section of the 'last'is'cut away'belowthe link 4! for permitting the last to be opened. The link is contained within the slot' formed intlie two hinge sections below the 'spacers 23- and 33 in the respective hinge sections!!! and '20.

The use of thehinge 'is as follows:

When the last is closed, the parts assume the positions indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. The nose 34 of the rear'h'inge's'ection20 ishcoked into the recess 25 of the forward hinge section i9, and the nose 24 of thelatterengages in the recess 35 back ofthe nose 34. This brings the interfaces of the last sections and the hingesections together. In this position, 'thespring 21 bears against the nose 34 of'the rear hinge section 2!, and forces that nose against 'the' nose 24 of the forward section. The nose: 34 flexes the spring 27, distorting its lower :bend upwardly so that the primary point of pressure comes 'on the sloping edge 36' of 'the nose 34, thuslocking the nose 34 downwardly. On't he otherhand, the last may be broken by elevating'fthe'front part of the rear section l2 temperate the hooks, as shown in Fig. '3, andfto completelyppen the last, as is shown in Fig.4. The last is' re'closed when the forward last section II is in the toe'of the shoe, and the rear section" I2 is open, with its back heel edge in the bottom of the heel of the shoe upper. Pressure is" then' exerted on the upper forward part" of the rear 'section, to

force it down into the shoe. The link defines the movement, and the last -involves a'slidingof the rear section l2 along the interface l3,' with the hook 34 deforming thespring 2'! 'as it engages in the recess 25, to become releasably' locked'as before, by the spring 27. As thed'rawing' shows, the locking occurswi'th a'snap action,"as the spring or its equivalentspring-urged'ineans, rides over the nose onto the sloping surface 36.

hook 3'4, and the disposition of the lower bend at or slightly above the base of the nose assuresja resistance to accidental withdrawal of -the'hook'34aridbreaking of the last. The spring force of course obtains a corresponding engaging force of the hook 24 in the recess 35.

This arrangement permits the hinge to be a self-contained unit incliidlng a locking means. It eliminates the necessity of using a separate locking meansrsuchnas that exemplified in the earlier Patent No.g2,391,9 68. v I I The use or a leaf spring of this type is advantageous because itwis simple in ccnstructionand may be easily replaced for repair of the hinge. It can flex between ,its anchored ends in such wise as to permit a convenient unlcckingof the last. It also lendsritself to the substitution of other similar springsof difierentiorces to take care of different requirements of the use of the last.

What is claimed is; V v

1. A hinge for a lastvor the like device having relatively movable fore, and aft sections, the hinge comprising forwardand aft said hinge plate members for attachment inthe respective sections, a link, pivot pins extending through each of the opposite ends of said link and supported respectively in said hinge members, and a lock device comprising interengaging hook members, one member of which is carried by one of said hinge members and the other of which is carried by the other of said hinge members, the hook members being adapted to lock said fore and aft sections with each other when the device is in expanded and closed adjustment, and

'a spring in one of said sections bearing against the hook member of the other section to yieldably force said hook member .of the other'section in contact with the hook member. of the section in which said spring is disposed, said spring com- .prising a leaf spring secured. to thehook ,mem-

ber carried by the. hinge andextending therefrom in position'to be engaged by the nose'narried by hook of the said other hinge-member.

2.'A hinge for a"shoe'last or the like device having separable fore and aft sections relatively movable into closed and open positions, the hinge including fore and aft hinge'me'mbers adapted to be attached respectively tothe last'sections, each hinge member including side support plates to which is attached a hook member and a 'pivot I pin, a link connecting the said two pivot of the said hinge member, each hook: member having a recess and a noseand cooperable with one ano.ther, so that the noseof one hook member w l fit intot e r cess of the he on of. sai ,recesseshaving a widthgreater than the width of its companionnose, and a spring in this recess extending toward its nose to be engaged by the nose of the 01 1 6 hook membeigwhen the last device is in' expanded and closed adjustment.

3. A.hinge .for .a shoe last orjlike device having separable fore and aft sections, the hinge including fore and aft hinge members adapted to be attached respectively to the last sections of the device, each hinge member including side support plates to which is attached a hook member and a pivot pin, a link connecting the said two pivot pins of the said hinge members, each hook memher having a recess and a nose cooperable with one another, so that the nose of one hook member will fit into the recess of the other, oneof said recesses having a width greater than the width of the nose of the other hook member, and a spring in this recess extending toward its nose to be engaged by the nose of the other hook member when the last device is in expanded and closed adjustment, said spring comprising a leaf spring anchored at its ends in said hook member and with its middle portion extending to be engaged by the nose of the said other hook member so that it urges said nose into locking relationship with the nose and recess of the member containing the spring when said device is in said expanded and closed adjustment.

4. A hinge for a shoe last or like device having separable fore and aft sections, the hinge includ-' ing fore and aft hinge members adapted to be attached respectively to the last sections of the device, each hinge member including side support plates to which is attached a hook member and a pivot pin, a link connecting the said two pivot pins of the said hinge members, each hook member having a recess and a nose cooperable with one another, so that the nose of one hook member will fit into the recess of the other, one of said recesses having a width greater than the width of the nose of the other hook member, and a spring in this recess extending toward its nose to be engaged by the nose of the other hook member when the last device is in expanded and closed adjustment, said spring comprising a leaf spring anchored at its ends in said hook member and with its middle portion extending to be engaged by the nose of the said other hook member so that it urges said nose into locking relationship with the nose and recess of the member montaining the spring, the nose of the other hock member having a straight side wall on the side opposite its recess, and the spring having a portion engaging said straight side wall of the interfitting nose of the other hook member to force said nose against the nose of the hook member in which said spring is anchored to lock the device in said expanded and closed adjustment.

5. A hinge for shoe lasts or like devices comprising a fore and aft hinge section, each section consisting of two outer side plates between which a spacer plate member is disposed, each of said side plates having a pivot pin attached thereto and a link connecting the pivot pins of each section, the outer plates in each section being connected in rigid parallel spaced relationship by the specer members, the two hinge sections having complementary interfaces of the two side plates, each spacer plate member having a recess and a hook member, each hook member comprising a projecting nose, whereby the two hook sections may be interlocked together when the hinge is in closed adjustment, and a spring in one of said hinge sections yieldably bearing against the nose of the other hinge section when said hinge is in hooked position, said other hinge section nose having a straight side wall on the side opposite the recess in the hook member where engaged by the spring whereby the spring will yieldably maintain the hinge in closed position.

6. A hinge for shoe lasts or like devices comprising a fore and aft hinge section, each section consisting of two outer side plates between which a spacer plate in each section member is disposed, each of said side plates having a pivot pin attached thereto and a link connecting the pivot pins of each section, the outer plates being connected in rigid parallel spaced relationship by the spacer members, the two hinge sections having complementary interfaces of the two side plates, each spacer plate member having a recess and a hook member, each hook member comprising a projecting nose, whereby the two hook sections may be interlocked together when the hinge is in closed adjustment, and a spring in one of said hinge sections yieldably bearing against the nose of the other hinge section when said hinge is in hooked position, said other hinge section nose having a straight side wall on the side opposite the recess in the hook member where engeged by the spring whereby the spring will yieldably maintain the hinge in closed position, and a link connected at its ends between the outer plates of each hinge section, the spacer plate members terminating to provide slots in the hinge sections to receive said link.

'7. In a last having relatively movable fore and aft sections to open and expand the last, a hinge having fore and aft members attached to the respective last sections, each hinge member including a hook member and a pivot pin rigidly disposed with respect to its last section, a link connecting the said two pivot pins of the said hinge member, each hook member having a recess and a nose cooperable with one another, so that the nose of one hook member will fit into the recess of the other, one of said recesses having a width greater than the width of its companion nose, and a spring in this recess extending toward its nose to be engaged by the nose of the other hook member when the last device is in expanded and closed adjustment.

8. In a last having relatively movable fore and aft sections to open and expand the last, a hinge having fore and aft members attached to the respective last sections, each hinge member including a hook member and a pivot pin rigidly disposed with respect to its last section, a link connecting the said two pivot pins of the said hinge members, each hook member having a recess and a nose cooperable with one another, so that the nose of one hook member will fit into the recess of the other, one of said recesses having a width greater than the width of the nose of the other hook member, and a spring in this recess extending toward its nose to be engaged by the nose of the other hook member when the last device is in expanded and closed adjustment, said spring comprising a leaf spring anchored at its ends in said hook member and with its middle portion extending to be engaged by the nose of the said other hook member so that it urges said nose into locking relationship with the nose and recess of the member containing the spring when said device is in said expanded and closed adjustment.

9. In a last having relatively movable fore and aft sections to open and expand the last, a hinge having fore and aft members attached to the respective last sections, each hinge member including a hook member and a pivot pin rigidly disposed with respect to its last section, a link connecting the said two pivot pins of the said hing-e members, each hook member having a recess and a nose cooperable with one another so that the nose of one hook member will fit into the recess of the other, one of said recesses having a width greater than the width of the nose of the other hook membergand a spring-in: this fecess' extending toward its nose to be-en-gaged by thenose of the'other hook member whe'n the-last device is'in expanded and closed adjustment, -:saidspring comprising a leaf:springanchored at its endsin said hook member and with' itsmiddlezportion extending to be engaged b'y' the nose -of thesaid other hook member so that it urges said noseinto locking relationship: with the nose and recess of themember containing thespring, the nose of the other hook member having a straightside wall on the side Opposite its recess,;and' the spring having a portion engaging said straight sidewall of the interfitting nose of the other hook member to force said noseagainst the nose of 'the'hook member in which said spring is anchored to-lock the device in'said expandedand closed adjustment.

10. A hin'ge'fOr ashoe lastor the likedevice having separable fore and-aft sectionsrelatively movable into closed and open positions; thehinge including fore and aft-hinge members adapted to be attached respectively to the last sectionsyeach hinge member includinga' sidesupportplate to which is attached a hook member and a pivot'pin, a link connecting the said two pivotrpi'ns of the said hinge member, eachhock member having a recess and a nose" cooperable' with one'another so that the nose of one hook member'wi-ll fitinto the recess of the'other; one of saidrecesses having a width greater than the width of its'companion nose, and a spring in this recess extending toward its noseto'be engaged by the nose of the other hook member when the last device -is inexpanded and closed adjustment.

11. A hinge for a shoe last or like device having separable fore and aft'sections, the 'hingeincluding fore and'aft hinge members-adapted to be attached'respectively to the'last sections of the device, each hinge member including a side support plate to which is attached a hookmember and a pivot pin, a link connecting the said two pivot pins of the said hinge -members;-'each' hook member having a. recess and a nose cooper-able with one another so that the nose'of one hook member will fit into the recess of'the other, one of said recesses having a width'greater'than-the width of the nose of the other hook member, and a spring in this recess extending toward its nose to be engaged by the nose of the "other hook mem- 50 ber when the last device is in expanded and closed adjustment, said-spring comprising a leaf spring eanchored at its ends in-said-hook member and -withitsmiddle portion extending to be engaged by themnosaof the said other hook member so pivot pins of the said hinge'members, each hook 'memberha-ving a recess and a nose 'cooperable with'one another so that the'nose of one hook -member will fit into the recess of the other; one

of said recesses having a width greater than the width of-the nose of the other hook member, and a spring in this recess extending toward its'nose to be engaged by the nose'of the other hook member when the last device is in expanded and closed adjustment, said spring: comprising a leaf spring anchored atits ends in-sai'd hook member and with its middle portion extending to be engaged by the nose of the said other hook member so that it urges said nose into-locking relationship with the nose and recess of the member containing the spring, the nose of the'other'hook me-mber'having a straight side wall on the side opposite its recess, and the spring having-a portion engaging said straight sidewall of the interfitting nose of the other hook member to force said nose against the nose of the hook member'in whichsaid spring is anchored'to'lock the device in said expanded and closed adjustment.

CLARENCE H. HEITMAN ROYR. NIEHAUS.

References Cited in the'file of this-patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,553,399 'ScheIter Sept. 15, 1925 2,091,673 DeOrlow Aug-'31, 1937 2,164,047 Beaumann- "June27', 1939 2391,968 Heitman Jan. 1, 1946 

